A$AP Yams, A$AP Mob Founder, Dies At 26
Jan. 19, 2015, 10:05 a.m.
A$AP Rocky said, "R.I.P YAMS, I LOVE YOU BROTHER."
A$AP Yams, the influential founder of the hip-hop collective A$AP Mob, who shepherded A$AP Rocky's career, died at age 26. A$AP Mob Tweeted yesterday morning, "RIP @ASAPYams."
Yams, born Steven Rodriguez, grew up in Harlem and became obsessed with rap music at an early age. As a teenager, he interned with Harlem’s legendary Diplomats Records, began managing some local producers, and sold mixtapes on the side. In 2007, at age 17, he co-founded ASAP Mob with ASAP Bari and ASAP Illz; they linked up with ASAP Rocky and ASAP Ferg a year later. By 2010 Yams was becoming an online tastemaker due to his Tumblr; by 2011, Rocky’s “Purple Swag” and “Peso” put the group on the map and the crew began signing major-label deals; and by 2013, Rocky’s official debut album Long.Live.A$AP debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. That rise can partly be attributed to Yams’ business savvy and aesthetic vision. He was a behind-the-scenes guy who ASAP Mob’s publicist once described as “the backbone of the operation.”
A 2013 NY Times profile detailed his work ethic as well as other issues:
He also has his own demons to quell. His stories of crazy tour escapades — like the night at the Coachella music festival when, high on Xanax and syrup, he almost choked on his own vomit in his sleep — are legion and largely unprintable. On his left arm is a tattoo that reads, “Black Out” next to Xanax bars. “Yams has a penchant for living on the edge,” Mr. Johnson admitted. “Black Out Boyz is very real.”
The circumstances of his death were not disclosed. BET reports that he "battled an addiction to codeine and Xanax. He did a stint in rehab last July in an effort to kick the habit," later Tweeting, "That lean sh** corny now i apologize for even glorifying that bullsh** its embarrassing it destroyed too many lives. Its disrespectful to the families who lost loved ones to that demon for us to be flaunting that addiction rip pimp c."
Rest in peace Yams. A$AP is family.
— Drizzy (@Drake) January 18, 2015
A.S.A.P YAMS should be remembered as a leader, an innovator and most importantly as an important part of NYC youth culture.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 18, 2015
Wow RIP A$AP Yams what a good dude. Gone way too young, way too soon. You will be missed A$AP fam my condolences
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) January 18, 2015
RCA Records released a statement, "All of us at RCA Records are shocked and saddened to hear of the death of A$AP Yams. As one of the creative forces behind A$AP Worldwide, Yams’ vision, humor and dedication to the members of A$AP Mob will always be remembered. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."